On the Beach

In 1916, Roger Casement, Irish rebel, British knight and international humanitarian, came ashore on Banna Strand and was captured nearby. In The Casement Project, choreographer Fearghus Ó Conchúir invites us to think about our bodies and the nation: Who gets to be in the national body? Whose body represents the nation? How does the national body move? How permeable are its borders?

Féile Fáilte was a FREE festival on Banna Strand, Co. Kerry; an opportunity for all kinds of people to see and join in a day-long celebration of the dancing body. Running from mid-afternoon to midnight on Saturday July 23, Féile Fáilte featured dance performances, an evening céilí, a night-time beach disco and a spectacle of light.

The afternoon opened with Welcoming the Stranger, a celebratory dance by long-time Kerry Dance Artist in Residence, Catherine Young, performed to live music by local dance enthusiasts. Other dance performances included Croí Glan Integrated Dance Company, riding the energy of ’90s club classics in Fearghus Ó Conchúir’s The Rhythm of Fierce; John Scott and his international company of dancing souls performed new show Precious Magic; Siamsa Tíre brought singers, dancers and musicians to the beach in an extract from their acclaimed show, Oileán; and Fearghus Ó Conchúir and his exciting company of dancers presented a special ‘unplugged’ performance of Butterflies and Bones: The Casement Project, fresh from its world premiere in London and ahead of its official Irish premiere in Dublin.

The day included beach games and dancing, a ceilí called by local legend Paddy Hanafin with music by Sean and Donal Murphy (Breaking Trad, Four Men and a Dog), party sounds from DJ Proud Mary and high-energy music to move hearts by Limerick hip-hop trio Rusangano Family, fresh from their appearance at Body and Soul. To music by Kerry’s own Alma Kelliher (of The Evertides), the evening finished with a spectacle of fire and light to celebrate our ability to welcome the stranger.

All were welcome to come, watch, dance, enjoy and remember. FREE and UNTICKETED.

view gallery 'Precious Magic' - Irish Modern Dance Theatre at Féile Fáilte 02Adrienne Heaslip at Féile FáilteAudience at Féile Fáilte 01Audience at Féile Fáilte 02Audience at Féile Fáilte 03Butterflies and Bones at Féile Fáilte 01Butterflies and Bones at Féile Fáilte 02Butterflies and Bones - The Casement Project at Féile FáilteFearghus Ó Conchúir at Féile FáilteFéile FáilteJohn Scott - Irish Modern Dance Theatre at Féile FáilteMangina Jones at Féile FáilteOileán - Siamsa Tíre at Féile FáiltePaddy Hanafin - Ceilí at Féile Fáilte 01Paddy Hanafin - Ceilí at Féile Fáilte 02Rusangano Family at Féile Fáilte 01Rusangano Family at Féile Fáilte 02Siamsa Tíre at Féile Fáilte'The Rhythm of Fierce' - Croí Glan at Féile Fáilte 01'The Rhythm of Fierce' - Croí Glan at Féile Fáilte 02'Welcoming the Stranger' - Catherine Young at Féile Fáilte

FÉILE FÁILTE – SATURDAY JULY 23 2016 – DAY PLANNER

3pm         Welcome by Fearghus Ó Conchúir, Artistic Director The Casement Project

3.10pm    Welcoming the Stranger – Catherine Young, local dancers, live musicians

3.40pm    The Rhythm of Fierce – Croí Glan Integrated Dance Company

4.30pm    Oileán – Siamsa Tíre, National Folk Theatre of Ireland

5pm         Dance and games on the beach

6pm         Beachside céilí with Paddy Hanafin, music by Sean and Donal Murphy

7.30pm    Precious Magic – John Scott’s Irish Modern Dance Theatre

8.15pm    Rusangano Family

9.30pm    Butterflies and Bones: The Casement Project – Fearghus Ó Conchúir

10.45pm  Lighting the beach

11pm        Disco with Mangina Jones

*This was family-friendly event and was alcohol-free. There was food and soft drinks to purchase from local producers.

We were at the mercy of the elements, so we encouraged people to come prepared! 

FREE BUS TRANSPORT (from carpark opposite Brandon Hotel, Tralee: Glenside Travel)

• From Tralee to Banna (every half-hour from 2.30pm, last bus 9pm)
• From Banna to Tralee (every half-hour from 4pm, last bus midnight)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

From Tralee, drive in direction of Ardfert / Ballyheigue (R551). 2.3kms after Ardfert, turn left at Banna Cross: the beach is 2kms from Banna Cross. BANNA BEACH ON GOOGLE MAPS

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